Two women, both in their 20s, spoke with staff from Brighter Futures Adult Sex Workers Service who 'identified several support needs'.

The operation, carried out by Staffordshire Police's specialist investigations, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Private Sector Housing Team, Immigration and Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, was part of the national Operation Aidant - which is investigation vulnerability, exploitation and modern day slavery.

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During the operation housing officers found a 'significant' range of hazards in the properties that the landlords will be required to fix.

These included:

defective or no working smoke alarms

rare fruiting bodies (fungus) growing from a roof

no fire safety measures

dangerous electrics unsafe stairs

no heating in some rooms.

Detective Inspector Lindon Evans, of Staffordshire Police, said: "Modern slavery and human trafficking affects every community in every area of the UK. Staffordshire Police works with a range of partners in the public, private and voluntary sector to identify and safeguard victims.

"The public plays a key role in helping to tackle modern slavery and labour exploitation. Suspicions should be reported to the Modern Slavery Helpline, local police on 101, or 999 in an emergency."

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Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, added: "Modern slavery and human trafficking can have no place in our communities in Stoke-on-Trent.

"We are committed to working with partners to tackle this crime and safeguard our residents."

Councillor Randy Conteh, the council's cabinet member for housing, communities and safer city, said: "Housing officers took part in this operation and found significant hazards in the properties they visited.

"Stoke-on-Trent residents should not have to suffer sub-standard housing conditions and the landlords of these properties must now carry out improvement works."